A 31-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of mother-of-one Sonia Blount.

Eric Locke (31) voluntarily walked into Store Street garda station in Dublin on Sunday evening following the death of Ms Blount, whose body was found in Tallaght at the weekend.

The young mother's body was found by cleaning staff in a hotel bedroom.

Judge Anthony Halpin remanded Mr Locke, of St John's Park East in Clondalkin, Dublin, in custody at Tallaght District Court to appear before Cloverhill District Court on February 25. He also ordered that Mr Locke should have access to medication and receive medical attention if required.

The murder is alleged to have taken place at a room in the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on Sunday.

Garda Jennifer Brogan said Mr Locke was arrested and was chargedat Tallaght garda station at 1.10am yesterday.

The garda said Mr Locke was asked if he had anything to say in relation to the charge, and he replied "no".

Ms Blount was the mother of a three-year-old boy and came from the Allenton estate in Tallaght. She had checked into the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on Saturday evening. Her fully clothed body was found on the floor of a bedroom.